HIFF closed with Following the dismissal nearly three years ago of its executive director, then the resignation of its largest individual donor, and continued cuts in state funding, the Hawai'i International Film Festival completing its 22nd annual event this week is back on solid ground and "debt free," says executive director Chuck Boller.
a list of firsts
Donors credited with coming
to the rescue of the film festivalBy Tim Ryan
tryan@starbulletin.com
The festival that began Nov. 1 wrapped up Sunday after screening the most films in its history -- 200, including 135 features -- its greatest number of world premieres, 18, and the most Hawaii-produced films at 25, double last year's total.
HIFF for the first time also tied a film series to a cultural event. "Spotlight on Korea" featured 10 major Korean films, including the opening night Korean comedy "YMCA Baseball Team," to mark the centennial of Korean immigration to the United States.
Other firsts included a "symphonic premiere" in which a film's live narration was accompanied by the Honolulu Symphony.
HIFF also has 475 visiting "delegates" -- the most in its history -- including filmmakers, actors, media and VIPs. Audience numbers viewing films remained about the same as in past years at more than 60,000, Boller said.
HIFF's annual budget, which includes in-kind donations, is $1 million, though at one time it was $1 million cash. Part of the monetary decrease is a result of state funding that has dropped from $500,000 to $100,000 over a decade.
HIFF's major donor this year became new contributor Louis Vuitton Hawaii, which ponied up $95,000, making up for the loss of some $80,000 from former HIFF board member Dwight Damon, who withdrew his donation a year ago. Vuitton's sponsorship also meant a change in HIFF's title to "Louis Vuitton Hawaii Presents the Hawai'i International Film Festival." The company is expected to fund HIFF for one more year.
Aloha Airlines also became a major corporate sponsor this year when Hawaiian Airlines dropped out, and perennial sponsor Kodak, who presents an award for cinematography, increased its donation this year from $15,000 to $20,000.
Boller, in his third year as executive director, believes HIFF should use its resources mainly to attract quality films and filmmakers rather than big-name celebrities simply to attract publicity.
"We simply do not have the budget to accommodate major celebrities' expense demands to come here," Boller said.
The modest budget did limit international and national press coverage when some media expect free air transportation, although Sheraton provides accommodations, Boller said.
"We don't have a lot of reviewers because we just don't have funding to accommodate them," he said.
That's not likely change next year; nor will the ticket prices.
"We'll let our films and filmmakers do the talking," Boller said, "and keep them as accessible to the public as possible."
Here is a recap of the Golden Maile Award-winning films and other award winners:
>> Golden Maile feature film: "Mr. and Mrs. Iyer" (India)Golden Maile awards jurors were former Columbia Tri-Star studios president and UH Film School co-chairman Chris Lee, Pia Film Festival director Keiko Araki; director Mabel L. Cheung; documentary cameraman and editor Richard Chew; and director Ahmed Lateef.>> Golden Maile documentary film: "Spellbound" (USA)
>> Blockbuster Video Audience Award, best feature: "The Maori Merchant of Venice" (New Zealand)
>> Blockbuster Video Audience Award, best short: "Kaho'olawe: The Breath of Our Ancestors" (Hawaii)
>> Blockbuster Video Audience Award best documentary: "An Untold Triumph: America's Filipino Soldiers" (Hawaii)
>> Aloha Airlines Hawaii Film & Videomaker Award: "I Scream, Floats & Sundays" (Hawaii)
>> Eastman Kodak Award for Excellence in Cinematography: Peter Pau
>> NETPAC Award, for best feature by an emerging Asian filmmaker: "Eyes of a Beauty," directed by Guan Hu (China), with special mention to "Ogya," directed by Fujiro Mitsuishi (Japan).
Jurors for the NETPAC award were Park Chong-Won, award-winning filmmaker and professor of filmmaking at Korean National, University of Arts in Seoul; Nick Deocampo, award-winning filmmaker and director of the Mowelfund Film Institute in Manila; and Corey Tong, a film producer in San Francisco.
This is the third year NETPAC/USA coordinated the award for the international organization which bestows Best Asian Film Awards at many international film fests. Founded by president Jeannette Paulson Hereniko in 1994 and headquartered on Oahu, NETPAC/USA is a non-profit organization dedicated to the promotion of Asian and Pacific cinema in the U.S.
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